Waterslide

A waterslide is a slide kept slippery with running water, so you shoot down it on your body or on an inflatable ring. They come in all sizes, from small garden slides to long, fast runs down a grassy hill. The water kills the friction and cools you down, and the result is one of the silliest, most joyful ways to spend a hot afternoon.

The slip 'n' slide is the classic: a long sheet of smooth plastic laid on the grass and soaked with water. Put a big one on a slope and it gets properly quick.

Inflatable waterslides have soft, air-filled sides and a sprayed surface, which keeps you in your lane (mostly).

Body slides at water parks send you down on your back, feet first, through open chutes or twisting tubes called flumes.

Ring or tube slides let you ride on an inflatable ring, which usually means more speed, more spin and more shrieking.

Wait at the top until the slide ahead is completely clear. Sit or lie on your ring or the slide, feet first, hands holding on and elbows tucked in. Push off and let gravity and water handle the rest. Keep your head up and your arms and legs inside the slide all the way down.

At the bottom, get up and shuffle out of the way fast, so the next rider has a clear landing. However tempting it is, never run, stand up or dive head-first onto the slide. That's how the bumps happen, and it's much less cool than it looks in your head.

Absolutely not. Adults get just as giddy as children do, probably more, because it's been a while. There's no skill to learn and nothing to be good at, so it's pure fun from the first push. Watch a couple of rides, pick your ring and go. Expect lots of laughing, some competitive posing on the way down and at least one person insisting on going again immediately.

Swimwear, because you will get soaked, and yes, it has to stay on. Take off jewellery and watches and empty your pockets, so nothing sharp can scratch you or tear the slide. Bring a towel, dry clothes and sun cream for the queue.

You might also like SPYRA Water Blasters, Grass Sledging and Raft Building.

See all Camp Wildfire activities